Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Saturday (20 January) alleged neighbouring Ukraine was not a sovereign nation but was under the absolute control of the United States, in embrace of a Russian conspiracy theory.
The populist politician, who is against military aid to the war-torn country and opposes sanctions against Russia, also reiterated his opposition to Ukraine’s bid to join NATO.
“Ukraine is not an independent and sovereign country,” Fico told public broadcaster RTVS. “Ukraine is under the total influence and control of the United States.”
Slovakia is a member of both NATO and the European Union.
Fico is due to meet his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal on Wednesday in the city of Uzhhorod, western Ukraine, on the border with Slovakia.
“I will tell him that I am against the membership of Ukraine in NATO and that I will veto it,” Fico said.
Population of Ukraine: 37 million
GDP: $360 billion
Military: Possibly the strongest in Europe atm, comparable to Turkey as an alliance member at worst.
Strategic value: High
Population of Slovakia: 5 million
GDP: $116 billion
Military: Literally one division of troops that have never seen combat
Strategic value: Could not be lower.
I’m Slovak and couldn’t agree more.
Even from the Slovakian POV there’s not really a downside.
Y’all don’t need NATO, the EU already comes with a defensive pact. I tend to view more international cooperation being better international cooperation, but if someone’s going to be a bad actor and reject a purely beneficial expansion in a relationship there’s only tertiary benefits for all parties in, why even be in it?
I’m not saying we shouldn’t be in NATO - it’s the current government I have issue with. Without NATO we would be next in line in case Ukraine would fall. Just because our nation is dumb and easily manipulated or bribed by populist decisions doesn’t mean we should be devoured. We will see how things turn out but hopefuly we manage to turn it around.
Because we are usless in the grand scheme of things right now doesn’t mean it should stay that way
Without NATO, EU countries are still legally bound to defend each other in case of aggression by an external actor.
With a population 1/7 of Ukraine, the GDP is 1/3 of Ukraine - not bad at all.
That’s Central vs Eastern Europe for you, and Ukraine actually did pretty well compared to some of their neighbors.
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Typo, current estimate is 37 million, same difference really, the point is Ukraine is multiple times more valuable to a military alliance.
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Why? It’s a typo from 37 million. And even that still demonstrates the point rather handily.
It’s like you don’t care about the underlying point at all, and nothing could change your mind.
I don’t like missinformation
It now says 37 million and you get downvoted for sticking to a pointless typo, that really wasn’t the point at all.
Who?
You.